Outer garments with hidden internal  circumferential support

ABSTRACT

A lower body outer garment, such as a pant, or trouser is provided which has an interior support assembly that provides full circumferential support and which helps to redefine the wearer&#39;s appearance. The support is in one embodiment provided in the form of internal mesh re-enforcing panels that smooth the upper buttocks and flatten the tummy. The invention also relates to twill or denim fabric versions of the lower garment, and includes the front and rear power control panels having strategic hem placement to avoid cutting into fleshy areas on the wearer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to outer wear for the lower body, and more particularly; to pants, including jeans, trousers and leggings, that redefine the appearance and reshape or sculpt a wearer's lower body, and especially the lower waist torso: i.e., the abdominal area and waist, the hips, thighs, upper buttocks and upper legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Material advances of the last century have allowed fashion to move toward garments that both shape and move with the wearer. In particular, this has included the drive toward lower outerwear that accentuates the feminine figure. However, this trend has created a gap in the plus-size market, especially for women who want to appear au current, but who are intimidated to dress in clothing that reveals rather than covers their shape. One answer is the use of internal under garments which compress and shape the wearer so as to provide a smoother and cleaner fit and/or appearance of the respective outerwear and the shapewear industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. However, this solution is expensive and can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, especially when the wearer wishes to relieve herself or himself. The present invention is designed to provide an option in garments, including for example, pants or leggings, that allow these people to participate in these fashion trends. The invention can be constructed in a stretch knit fabric or in twill or denim style lower garment, such as jeans, pants, trousers, leggings or even skirts, and including dress skirts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an outer garment for the lower body, including for example, pants, slacks, jeans, trousers, leggings, and even skirts or dresses, which are structured so as to provide support and definition to the wearer's body, including, the waist, hips, abdominals, buttock area, thighs, and legs. The garment may advantageously extend down the leg to the mid-thigh, knee, mid-calf or ankle, although it should be understood that inventive features may be incorporated into garments having differing configurations.

The outer garment broadly termed “pants” herein, is preferably a fitted lower garment intended to be an external garment, and so having an appearance that is sufficiently formal and modest to be worn out and in public (i.e. that does not appear to be a pajama bottom, girdle, or stocking).

The invention is illustrated both for a denim style lower garment, often referred to as “blue jeans”, where the color blue is traditional, but not necessary, and also for a twill pant or trouser, which may be constructed in a fabric having a greater degree of drape or softer “hand”. Style choices for these garments may include the blue jean traditional pocket in patch pocket styling or in other versions, front slit or side slit tab or welt pockets, accentuated lapped seams, rounded tab outer stitched or concealed front zipper openings on the center rise, and optional back, and exterior back yoke and/or dart members. In general, the garments may also feature a stretch waist band with self-top layer and an elastic inner layer to allow a transition at the waist that inhibits rolling and optional belt keeps. In addition, they may include pocket details in the back and front, which may be purely decorative or functional, depending, for example, on the desired profile and function.

In addition, in all embodiments, the lower garment includes a stretch mesh re-enforcement layer which is preferably an open weave fabric cut either on the vertical or horizontal grain, but not on the bias, and which may float or be adhered to the fabric also with a stretch adhesive in this case. The lower garment of the invention includes full circumferential or 360° of shape support, which means that the support system fully encircles the wearer such that the front, side, back, and waist, including the closure tab are all re-enforced with the power mesh, and this invention includes a back hip yoke inner re-enforcement that acts to support the front power mesh control portions, i.e. the “power pocket” feature. This system has at least two (i.e. left and right) mating front side panels which are joined at the center rise seam or if present at the center zipper and the zipper includes the re-enforcement at the tab of the front closure if present, so as to form a front panel assembly, and mating back panels (i.e., left and right) or yoke shaped panels that extend from the waistband to cover a portion of the gluteal area and which are joined at the back rise seam to form a back panel assembly. As used herein, “yoke” or “hip yoke” refers to a pattern piece that overlays the top of the wearer's glut area in the back of the garment, and is shaped to account for the decrease in volume from the lower buttocks to the waist. The front panel assembly is joined at the top to the elastic waistband and on the side to side seams. The rear panel assembly likewise includes corresponding left and right rear panels that extend superiorly over the QL and sacral area and toward the butt crease area and are joined to the rear center rise. The back panels may be the deepest at the center rise, or alternatively may extend lower on the side, but in both cases are shaped to accommodate the anatomy so as to hide seams or constrictions in anatomical features of the wearer to avoid un-slightly bulges.

In some embodiments, the bottom of the control panels may be floating, or the panels join a yoke seam in the lower garment. The front and back panel assembly is joined together, either directly or through the medial side seams so as to encircle the wearer and form an inner girdle assembly. Further, in some other embodiments, the control panels may be anchored along one or more vertical seams such as side seams (e.g., inside, outside), rise seams (e.g., front, back), and may be seamed at the waistband, either with the outer garment, or self-seamed.

The outer garment is preferably made of a stretch fabric that also provides shape and give, but which conceals the control panels that provide a greater degree of giving support so as to balance the degree of control with the wearer's comfort. In at least one embodiment, the control panels may comprise spandex and/or elastomeric, and preferably open weave stretch mesh, and may be incorporated into the garment by sewing, gluing or adhering. Preferably, the controls panels are undercut (meaning that they are slightly undersized for the contour of the area that they cover) and are configured to accentuate the anatomy so that the transition between areas which include the control members and which do not form a smooth and un-intruded transition between the support and non-support sections of the garment. In particular, the bottom hem of the control assembly is configured to lie against a muscular transition (for example in the front and side at the top of the hip crease) or be disguised by a fashion feature in the pants, such as a pocket. In addition, the front set of panels may include a front shape that curves upwardly from the side seam of the garment and which intersects the bottom of the front rise or zipper tab in the event that the garment includes a front closure, such as zipper opening which likewise includes the re-enforcement of a mesh panel. The side of the front panel can thus vary from being level to the front center depth of the closure opening to extending from 0.25 to 1, 1.5, 2, or as much as 5 inches below this level relative to a horizontal line taken across the front of the garment tangential to the highest point of the panel or panel assembly (or with a the low point below the crotch at the inner thigh) in front.

The front panel assembly may include a central curve that ends higher at the front rise, for example from level to 3 inches, and preferably from 0.5 to 2 inches above the front zipper assembly, and which curves downwardly at the lateral edge by 0.5 to 5 inches, and preferably from 1 to 3 inches. In addition, the garment may include pockets that overlay or incorporate the support panels. Considered as a portion of a circle, the arc that is represented by the portion of the lower hem of the front panels may have a radius that is from 0.35 to 0.75, or preferably from 0.45 to 0.55 times the waist measurement of the garment, although it should be understood that the hem may be a rounded shape other than a portion of a circle, such as a compound curve, including a double S-shape.

The further embodiments may also include back side yoke features, and optional darts to accentuate the rounded shape of the wearer's backside. The garment may include a back-control panel assembly which includes, one or more of, left and right yoke control panels. The yoke typically has a left and right side where the yoke is seamed in the garment at the back center rise. The bottom seam of the yoke panels may extend lower in the center from the mid-point of the panels and the lateral hem of the yoke panels may extend in a line up-ward toward the lateral side seam, or may curve downward, so that the lower yoke hem is round from the side seam to the center seam. It is preferred that the yoke panels of the present invention include and define the shape of the yoke control panels which comprises a power fabric, such as a power mesh.

The control panels may form part of an interior lining of the garment and may extend from the top waist seam of the outer garment to the lower control seams, to the leg hems, or to a portion in between, such as to the lower thigh or knee. The control panels may be anchored along one or more vertical seams such as side seams (e.g., inside, outside), center back seams, or any design seams (e.g., vertical stylish seams). One area of the interior re-enforcement sections may provide control to tone or more of the waist, abdomen, thigh and butt, which is advantageously achieved by a unique pattern and sizing of the control panels relative to the areas enveloped by them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an interior view of the front of the lower garment of the present invention;

FIG. 1(a) shows a first detail of a front closure fastener;

FIG. 1(b) shows a second detail of a front closure fastener;

FIG. 2 shows an interior detail of a stretch waistband that can be used with the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a back interior view of the lower garment of FIG. 1 in a jean styling including back yoke section, pockets and a stretch waistband;

FIG. 4 shows the interior view of the front side of a second embodiment of the lower garment in a trouser styling of the present invention with a stretch waistband having a layer of ribbed elastic;

FIG. 5 shows an interior view of the back of the garment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a front exterior view of a lower garment of the present invention including an optional inner mesh smoothing support which extends into the leg portions;

FIG. 7 shows a back view of the garment of FIG. 6 including a further optional back version of the inner mesh smoothing support which extends into the leg portions;

FIG. 8 shows an exterior view of the front side of a denim style version of the lower garment of the present invention in accordance with FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 9 shows an exterior view of the back side of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a front exterior view of a trouser version of the lower garment of the present invention in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5; and

FIG. 11 shows a back exterior view of the trouser version of the lower garment of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lower outerwear, such as pants, jeans, trousers or skirts that have various features that collectively contribute to an outwear garment that redefines the appearance and the shape of the wearer.

A first embodiment of the lower garment 400 of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-9, and relate to a denim version which is specifically designed to support and accentuate the wearer's curves. The garment includes a body portion 399, 499 which corresponds in the front to the abdominal area of the wearer which flows into a right leg covering 412, 512 (for a pant a pant leg or a skirt half in a skirt version) and a left leg covering 412, 512. The body portion is seamed with a waistband 408,508 at the top edge. The garment includes an integrated interior control construct or assembly which includes a front assembly comprising a left control panel 402 and a front right control panel 404 both joined by stitching into the side seams 410 of the garment 400. The panels are further joined to the front closure member, which is a front fly zipper 405, 505 which includes a power mesh panel re-enforced rounded tab 406,506 and a packet 407,507 finished for example, by a merrow finish and joined at the top to a button front waistband 408. The zipper tab is re-enforced so as to avoid a gap in the circumferential support which could stress the garment fabric or seaming or leave an opening where bulges may occur. The waistband 408 is an elastic anti-roll waistband which is designed to ease the transition between the support assembly and the top of the garment so that the wearer's flesh is less likely to bulge over the top of the garment.

An example of a suitable construction of a waistband is shown in FIG. 2 which illustrates the body 420 of the garment 400 seamed at the top with the waistband assembly having a self outer layer 421 (here meaning that the outer fabric of the waistband is the same as the body of the lower garment) and an layer of interlining 422 that is adhered or glued to the exterior layer 421, and seamed to that is an interior waistband facing 423 that is preferably an elasticized non-woven facing member or an elastic fabric. FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative construction of the waistband which has a ribbed elastic layer instead of the waistband facing.

The back interior also includes a back power assembly 409 which is part of the control construct or assembly that includes left 414 and right 416 hip yoke members. The hip yoke members can also be considered “sacral” members as they overlay at least the sacral area of the wearer, but may extend below this level as described more fully hereinafter. In one version, the bottom hem 415 of the yoke members are the yoke seams with the exterior fabric layer. FIGS. 8 and 9 show examples of the exterior front and back views of the garments. It is further possible that the front includes shallow rounded stitched front pockets including the traditional rectangular coin pocket as in a traditional five pocket blue jean. The back also may include top-stitched five sided patch pockets which are shaped, sized and placed to accentuate the rounded area they cover. Top stitching is also illustrated as a style choice.

FIG. 1 illustrates the front of lower garment of the present invention inside out. In this view, the lower body garment 400 may comprise a support assembly or construct comprising assembled front internal support panels 402, 404, and assembled rear internal support panels, for example comprised of a mesh having a substantial amount of support, and a little stretch. The exterior of the lower body garment 400 may be made from an open weave perpendicular grained stretch fabric such as Lycra or Spandex, or more particularly of a rayon/nylon ponte with from 2 to 12% spandex, and more preferably 5% +/−2% spandex, which provides for control, comfort, and coverage and which interfaces with the construct in a manner so that the construct such that the control construct is not visible from the outside. The garment may also be constructed of a woven fabric, such as twill or denim, that may include a portion of stretch components, such as Spandex or Lycra. For example, the outer garment may be made of denim, twill or other woven fabric with added lycra, spandex or similar stretch or elastomeric fibers and the control construct may be made of a non-stretch mesh or a stretch fabric such as a two or four way stretch fabric or mesh with for example, nylon and a higher percentage of spandex, such as 15-40%, or more particularly, 20%+/−5%, that has a limited amount of give.

In some embodiments, the bottom edge 403, 406 of the construct may be floating, that is, not anchored to the outer garment. It is preferable that it is not observable from the exterior of the garment. For example, the construct may comprise one or two layers of lining fabric and the bottom of the layers may be bound by stitching or glue, but may not be anchored to the outer garment. The bonding may be done by stitching (e.g., Merrow or purl stitches) or glue. In one embodiment, the two layers of fabric of the construct may be tricot mesh and these two layers may be bound together at the bottom edge by 1/16 inch Merrow edge stitch.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention as it is incorporated in a trouser version of the lower garment having an abdominal covering 509 which includes side hip portions 511 and joined at a top edge 519 to a waistband. The garment includes a dual panel front power assembly 501 comprising an outer left 502 and right 504 panel seamed to the garment at the side seams 510 and at the front fly zipper 505 having a re-enforced rounded conceal tab 506 and an inner packet 507. The front power panel assembly further includes a left 510 and right 512 pocket bag which is interior to the panels 502, 504. The inner panel assembly has a lower seam 503 that curves upward (i.e. toward the waistband 508) as it extends from the side seams 510 toward the front fly and zipper. The seam is shortest at the front center seam of the garment and curves in a gentle arc (i.e. a portion of a circle having a radius of from 0.75 to 1.5 times ½ of the waist length) downward an inch or two below that level (on the pant). The power mesh underlayer assembly also preferably includes a curved lower hem, but one that extends at the lowest point below the zipper tab by from 0.5 to 3 inches from the center at the rise to the center of the left and right panels, and in the center ends from 1 to 0.5 inch above to the same range below the end of the center zipper tab or zipper itself.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the back also includes a power mesh assembly having a left yoke panel 514, a right yoke panel 516 as is described for the previous embodiment but which curve downward on the medial side and which have a floating bottom hem which is not sewn into the garment at an exterior yoke seam. This version is illustrated with back welt pockets and pocket bags 537.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the invention in which the interior control construct 427 comprises a front assembly 424 and a rear assembly 427 which may be included as either front or back only and which either extend further into the leg portions of the lower garment 600 illustrated here as ending in a scalloped hem around the knee area of the leg portion. It is understood that the assembly is illustrated in shadow but is on the interior of the pants and is not visible from the exterior.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the exterior view of the trouser shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Here the lower garment of the present invention is a front pleat trouser having soft self pleats on the legs 512 and constructed in a fabric having more drape, which is associated with a more formal look than the denim version of the garment. The garment has a front center rise 513 and a back center rise 518. This garment 500 includes welt pocket detailing in front 522 and back 523, exterior back darts 524 rather than obvious yoke members, and side seaming details 525 to account for the top taper from the abdominal portion 499 toward the waist 506. The front closure is a concealed zipper 507 which includes the re-enforced zipper tab previously discussed. This embodiment further includes an elastic waistband construction that provides a self waistband 508 having a lightweight tricot interfacing and a substantial ribbed elastic band or elastic interfacing as previously described that is stitched at the lower edge to the self waistband and tricot interfacing, where the opposite edge covers the seaming of the waistband assembly. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An outer garment having a right leg covering and a left leg covering which are integral at a superior region with a lower body member joined to a stretch waistband and the outer garment including a front body portion and a back portion and an integrated inner control construct comprising a power mesh fabric and which provides full circumferential support for the lower waist portion of the garment joined at a superior edge to the waistband and comprising a front abdominal portion, and a back sacral portion, and the front abdominal portion is joined to the back sacral portion, and front abdominal portion and the back sacral portions each have a left lateral side and a right lateral side, and the left lateral side of the front portion is directly or indirectly joined to the right lateral side of the back sacral portion and the right lateral side of the front portion is directly or indirectly joined to the left lateral side of the back sacral portion.
 2. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer garment is a pant, trouser or legging.
 3. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer garment is a dress or skirt.
 4. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back gluteal portion curves upwardly from the left lateral side and the right lateral side to a center portion.
 5. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner control construct is a mesh fabric.
 6. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner control construct has a lower boundary that floats relative to the outer garment.
 7. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer control garment includes side seams on the lateral sides, and the inner control garment is seamed with the outer control garment in the side seams.
 8. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer control garment has a size according to standard garment sizing and the inner control construct is 3% smaller by volume than the standard size of the outer garment.
 9. An outer garment as set forth in claim 8, wherein the inner construct is 5% smaller by volume than the standard size of the outer garment.
 10. An outer garment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back control panels are hip yoke members.
 11. An outer garment having a right leg covering and a left leg covering which are integral at a superior region with a lower body member having a front ingress zipper and the outer garment including a front body portion and a back portion and an integrated inner control construct comprising a power mesh fabric and which provides full circumferential support for the lower waist portion of the garment and comprising a front abdominal portion, and a back sacral portion, and the front abdominal portion is joined to the back sacral portion, and front abdominal portion and the back sacral portions each have a left lateral side and a right lateral side, and the left lateral side of the front portion is directly or indirectly joined to the right lateral side of the back sacral portion and the right lateral side of the front portion is directly or indirectly joined to the left lateral side of the back sacral portion and the front ingress zipper also includes an inner control portion.
 12. An outer garment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the garment comprises denim or twill, and the inner body control construct comprises power mesh.
 13. An outer garment as set forth in claim 12, wherein the garment is a pair of jeans.
 14. An outer garment as set forth in claim 13, wherein the ingress zipper is incorporated into a center front seam of the garment.
 15. An outer garment as set forth in claim 11, wherein the interior support construct terminates within the leg coverings but at a length superior to the end of the right leg covering and the left leg covering.
 16. An outer garment as set forth in claim 15, wherein the interior support construct is fused to the right leg covering and the left leg covering.
 17. An outer garment as set forth in claim 16, wherein the termination of the fused interior support construct is scalloped. 